Can end



Feb. 14, 1967 c. T. WALTER 3,303,957

CAN END Filed Dec. 18, 1964 I I a 6 ya 2.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,303,957 CAN END Charles T. Walter, Lemont, llll., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,457

11 Claims. (Cl. 220-48) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in the formation of cans, and more particularly to a novel can end of the easy opening type.

At the present time there is in widespread use cans of the easy opening type. These cans have tear strips of various types ranging from tear strips to which keys must be secured to remove the tear strip to tear strips having pull tabs thereon and which may be readily removed by exerting a lifting force on the pull tabs. It is quite apparent that the key removable tear strips are undesirable in that they require a separate key which can be lost during the shipment of the cans and which is a separate item that must be individually manufactured and secured to the associated can. The tear strips having pull tabs attached thereto have the deficiency of the added cost of the pull tab plus the fact that it is difficult to open cans so formed due to the fact that the pull tabs necessarily are relatively small and do not provide suflicient leverage when lifted. In addition, both the keys and the pull tabs present problems in the packaging of associated cans.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a novel can end which has a removable portion that can be readily removed in the opening of an associated can, the removable portion being defined by a score line and being removable from the remainder of the can end without requiring the attachment thereto of any type of handle such as a key or a pull tab.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can end which has a portion thereof which may be readily removed without having directly attached thereto any type of handle member and wherein the can end is so constructed that when it becomes a part of a closed can, a suitable prying tool, including another can, may be utilized to tear away the removable portion of the can end.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can end which includes an end panel having a removable portion, -a chuck wall which becomes part of a seam between the can end and a can body, and a depending shock absorbing bead disposed intermediate the chuck wall and the end panel with the removable portion of the can end extending into the depending bead and the removable portion being defined by a weakening line, such as a score line, which has a starting portion in the bead and generally opposing the chuck wall so that a prying tool may be inserted generally within the bead and fulcrumed against the chuck wall to effect the rupture of the can end and the removal of the removable portion therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel can end in accordance with the foregoing wherein the construction of the can end is such that the removable portion may either be a major part of the can end including the entire end panel thereof or may be in the form of a tear strip having an outline defining a combined pouring and venting opening.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel can end of the type set forth above wherein the shock absorbing bead has an upper curved portion joining the remainder of the bead to the end panel and wherein the starting portion of the score line is in this curved portion of the shock absorbing bead so that the seam portion of another can may be positioned generally within the recess defined by the bead and brought to bear against the can end along the starting portion of the score line While pivotlCe ing about the seam between the can end and the can body.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view of a can having formed as a part thereof a can end formed in accordance with this invention, another can being shown in position to be utilized as an opener, the other can being shown by phantom lines.

FIGURE -2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 and shows more specifically the details of construction of the can end and the relationship of the can which is utilized as a prying tool with respect to the can being opened.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of still another can utilizing a modified form of can end.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 and shows the specific details of the construction of the modified can end.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of another form of can utilizing a can end where the entire end panel is removable.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a further can wherein the can end thereof has the entire end panel thereof removable as a unit.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6 and shows specifically the construction of the can end of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view of yet another form of can having formed as a part thereof a further modified form of can end.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8 and shows more specifically the structural details of the can end of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 a can which is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The can 10 includes a conventional type of can body 11 to which there is secured a can end, generally referred to by the numeral 12. The connection between the can end 12 and the can body 11 is in the form of a conventional double seam 13 although other seam variations may be utilized between the can end 12 and the can body 11.

The can end 12 includes an end panel 14 which is surrounded by an upstanding chuck wall 15 that is a part of the seam 13. The chuck wall 15 is connected to the end panel by means of a depending shock absorbing bead 16 which defines an upwardly opening groove 17 surrounding the end panel 14. The inner upper portion of the shock absorbing bead 16 is in the form of a curved portion 18 which is directly connected to the end panel 14.

In order to facilitate the opening of the can 10, the can end 12 has a removable portion 20 formed primarily in the end panel 14 and defined by a score line 21. As is readily apparent from FIGURE 1, the removable portion 20 has the outline of a dispensing opening and includes a narrow inner portion 22 and a relatively wide outer portion 23.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 2 wherein it will be seen that a portion of the score line 21, which portion is considered the starting portion, is formed in the arcuate portion 18 of the shock absorbing bead 16. It is also to be noted that the starting portion of the score line 21 generally opposes the chuck wall 15.

The relationship of the starting portion of the score line 21, the arcuate portion 18 of the shock absorbing 3 bead 16 and the chuck wall 15 is such that a conventional double seam 24 between a bottom end 25 of a. can, such as the can 10, may be partially positioned within the groove 17 with portions of the double seam 24 engaging the chuck wall 15 and the arcuate portion 18 outwardly of the score line 21.

When the can is rotated in a clockwise direction about its point of engagement with the chuck wall 15, it will be seen that an outwardly directed pressure is placed upon the can end 12 immediately below the score line starting portion with the result that the can end 12 will rupture along the starting portion of the score line 21. Also, that portion of the removable portion 20 which is released by this initial rupture of the can end 12 will pop up slightly so that the double seam '24 may be engaged .therebeneath to facilitate the complete tearing away of the removable portion 20. It will thus be apparent that the can end 12 is so constructed whereby a can of which it is a part may be readily opened without requiring any other implement except a like can.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated another form of can which is generally referred to by the numeral 30. The can 30 is formed of a can body 31 and a can end which is generally referred to by the numeral 32. The can end 32 is joined to the can body 31 by means of a suitable folded seam 33.

The can end 32 includes an end panel 34 which is surrounded by an upwardly directed chuck Wall 35 that projects above the end panel 34. A depending shock absorbing bead 36 is disposed between the end panel 34 and the chuck wall 35 and connects together the two. The depending bea-d 36 generally defines an annular groove 37 which surrounds the end panel 34 and has an inwardly and upwardly disposed reversely curved portion 38 which joins the remainder of the bead 36 to the end panel 3'4.

The can end 32 is provided with a removable portion 40 of the same general configuration as the removable portion 20. The removable portion is defined by a of the bead 36', that portion of the score line 41 being considered a starting score line portion and being referred to by the numeral 42.

It is to be noted that the reversely curved portion 38 of the bead 36 is so shaped as to present an outwardly facing shoulder 43 above the starting score line portion 42. When it is desired to open the can 30, it will be readily apparent that a double seam, such as the double seam 24 may be readily engaged with the shoulder 43 to place a sufficient stress on the can end 32 to effect the rupture thereof along the starting score line portion 42. Furthermore, the engagement of a double seam with the shoulder 43 will be such that after the initial rupture of the can end 32, the removable portion 40 thereof will be lifted upwardly by the can which is utilized as a prying member, and the complete removal of the removable portion 40 may be readily accomplished.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated another form of can which is generally referred to by the numeral 50. The can 56 has the upper end thereof closed by means of a can end which is generally referred to by the numeral 51. The can end 51 is of the same configuration as the can end 32 with the exception of the score line formed therein. The can end 51 is secured to the can body (not shown) of the can 50 by means of a conventional double seam 52 and includes an end panel 53 which is defined by an inwardly recessed shock absorbing bead 54 which is of an identical construction to the shock absorbing bead 36. It is to be noted that the portion of the head 54 which is connected to the end panel 53 is in the form of a reversely curved portion 55 which is identical with the reversely curved portion 38. However, in lieu of the particular score line configuration illustrated in FIGURE 3, the can end 51 is proin the reversely curved portion 55 of the head 54 in the same position as the starting score line portion 42 shown in FIGURE 4. Thus, after the initial rupture of the can end along the score line 56, the entire end panel 53 may be torn from the can end 51.

In FIGURES 6 and 7 there is illustrated another form of can whichis generally referred to by the numeral 60 and which includes a conventional can body 61. The upper end of the can body 61 is closed by a can end 62 which is secured to the can body 61 by means of a conventional double seam 63. The can end 62 includes an end panel 64 which is defined by an inwardly depending bead 65 that is identical to the bead 16 of FIGURE 2. The bead 65 joins the end panel 64 to an upstanding chuck wall 66 and between the end panel 64 and the chuck wall 66 the bead 65 defines an upwardly opening recess 67.

It is to be noted that the can end 62 has a circumferential score line 68 which is disposed at the extreme bottom of the bead 65. When it is desired to open the can 60, it is merely necessary to place a suitable prying tool within the recess 67 and to pivot the same against the chuck wall 66 with the prying tool reacting against an upstanding wall portion 69 of the bead 65, as is shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 7. The prying tool of FIGURE 7, which is referred to by the numeral 70, is illustrated as being in the form of a spoon. However, it is to be understood that other suitable prying tools may beutilized, including for example the handle of a fork, a knife, etc. A spoon has been illustrated in that the spoon can then be used for the purpose of dispensing the contents of the can 60.

Referring now to FIGURES 8 and 9, in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a further form of can which is generally referred to by the numeral 75. The can 75 includes a conventional can body 76 which has the upper end thereof closed by means of a can end 77. The can end 77 is secured to the can body 76 by means of a conventional double seam 78 and includes an outer upstanding chuck wall 79. Disposed within the chuck wall 79 in recessed relation thereto is an end panel 80; The end panel 80 is connected to the chuck wall 79 by an inwardly directedshock absorbing bead 81 which defines an annular recess 82.

The can 75 is primarily intended to contain a liquid, and, accordingly, the can end 77 is provided with a score line 83 which defines a removable portion 84 of the end panel which removable portion 84, when removed, will leave in the end panel 80 a dispensing opening. The score line 83 includes a starting portion 85 which is disposed at the bottom of the bead 81, as is clearly shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. It will be readily apparent that when a suitable prying tool is inserted in the recess 82 in alignment with the removable portion 84 and is brought to bear against an upstanding wall 86 of the bead 81 in alignment with the removable portion 84, the pressure exerted on the upstanding wall 86 will effect the rupture of the can end 77 along the starting score line portion 85, after which further pivoting of the prying tool will result in the complete tearing out of the removable portion 84. This can be accomplished by means of another can in the manner generally shown in FIGURE 2, or by means of any other type of prying tool.

The advantages of the disclosed can ends are numerous and obvious. Accordingly, only several of the advantages will be set forth here. In the first place, it will be apparent that it is cheaper to form the can ends disclosed here than the ones that have pull tabs attached thereto in View of the fact that the cost of the pull tabs and the attaching of the same is eliminated. Secondly, since the can ends require no pull tabs to effects the opening thereof, the disadvantages of presently difficult to open can ends are obviously eliminated.

Although only several embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting portion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, the entire score line being formed along a portion of said bead for the removal of the entire end panel with the score line being disposed in a curved upper portion of said head connecting the main portion of said bead to said end panel.

2. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock'absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting portion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, said bead including a curved upper portion connecting the remainder of said bead to said end panel, and said score line starting portion being formed in said curved upper portion and generally facing said chuck wall.

3. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting portion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, said bead including a reversely curved upper portion connecting the remainder of said head to said end panel, and said score line starting portion being formed in said curved upper portion and generally facing said chuck wall.

4. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting por tion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, said score line defining a liquid dispensing opening having a narrow inner part and a relatively wide outer part,

and a major portion of said score line being formed in said end panel.

5. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting portion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, said bead including a curved upper portion connecting the remainder of said bead to said end panel, and said score line starting portion being formed in said curved upper portion and generally facing said chuck walls, said score line defining a liquid dispensing opening having a narrow inner part and a relatively wide outer part and a major portion of said score line being formed in said end panel.

6. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting portion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, said head including a reversely curved upper portion connecting the remainder of said bead to said end panel, and said score line starting portion being formed in said curved upper portion and generally facing said chuck walls, said score line defining a liquid dispensing opening having a narrow inner part and a relatively wide outer part, and a major portion of said score line being formed in said end panel.

7. An easy opening can end of the type conventionally secured to a can body by means of a folded seam, said can end including an end panel, an upstanding chuck wall surrounding said end panel and projecting thereabove, a depending shock absorbing bead intermediate said end panel and said chuck wall and defining a groove, and a. score line formed in said can end defining a removable portion for facilitating the opening of a can of which said can end is a part, said score line having a starting portion extending along a portion of said bead spaced from said chuck wall whereby the can end may be readily initially ruptured by a prying device positioned within said groove and pivoting generally on said chuck wall, said score line starting portion being disposed at the bottom of said recess and said score line defining a liquid dispensing opening having a narrow inner part and a relatively wide outer part, a major portion of said score line being formed in said end panel.

8. The can end of claim 3 wherein said reversely curved bead portion includes a concave upper portion forming an abutment shoulder for a prying device and a convex lower portion, and the position of said score line in said reversely curved head portion is below said abutment shoulder.

9. The can end of claim 3 wherein said reversely curved head portion includes a concave upper portion forming an abutment shoulder for a prying device and a convex lower portion, and said score line extends along the intersection between said concave portion and said convex portion.

10. The can end of claim 6 wherein said reversely curved bead portion includes a concave upper portion forming an abutment shoulder for a prying device and a convex lower portion, and the position of said score line in said reversely curved bead position is below said abutment shoulder.

11. The can end of claim 6 wherein said reversely curved bead portion includes a concave upper portion forming an abutment shoulder for a prying device and a convex lower portion, and said score line extends along the intersection between said concave portion and said convex portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 195,604 7/1963 Fraze 22054 5 2,004,946 6/ 1935 Hothersal-l 220-48 2,210,225 8/ 1940 Walensky 220-48 2,5 47,05 9 4/ 1951 Taylor et al. 220-47 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

10 G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EASY OPENING CAN END OF THE TYPE CONVENTIONALLY SECURED TO A CAN BODY BY MEANS OF A FOLDED SEAM, SAID CAN END INCLUDING AN END PANEL, AN UPSTANDING CHUCK WALL SURROUNDING SAID END PANEL AND PROJECTING THEREABOVE, A DEPENDING SHOCK ABSORBING BEAD INTERMEDIATE SAID END PANEL AND SAID CHUCK WALL AND DEFINING A GROOVE, AND A SCORE LINE FORMED IN SAID CAN END DEFINING A REMOVABLE PORTION FOR FACILITATING THE OPENING OF A CAN OF WHICH SAID CAN END IS A PART, SAID SCORE LINE HAVING A STARTING PORTION EXTENDING ALONG A PORTION OF SAID BEAD SPACED FROM SAID CHUCK WALL WHEREBY THE CAN END MAY BE READILY INITIALLY RUPTURED BY A PRYING DEVICE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID 